Convicted cop-killer to walk free today

The mentally-ill Horan was to leave Long Bay jail with his brother Denis at 3pm, a Corrective Services spokesman said.

Either he or his brother would talk to the media, or the men would issue a statement, the spokesman said.

The NSW Parole Board last week decided to release Horan, who served 18 years for the manslaughter in 1986 of Constable Paul Quinn at Bathurst in NSW's central-west.

Const Quinn died and his partner, then sergeant Ian Borland, was injured, when Horan opened fire on police after a car chase on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1986.

The officers had been responding to calls from Horan's mother, concerned her paranoid schizophrenic son had driven off following an argument. Horan had stopped taking his medication and was acting irrationally.

Police began pursuing Horan, until eventually the wanted man crashed his ute into a police truck.

Horan then produced a .303 rifle from his car and opened fire.

Police have said they did not know about Horan's mental condition, although the killer's lawyer last week insisted officers had been appraised of the situation.

During Horan's NSW Supreme Court trial, he pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility due to mental illness.

He was jailed for life, but in 1998 the court redetermined the life term and he received a non-parole period of 16 years.

Horan, now 63, was given parole last week on the special condition he take his medication and see a psychiatrist every three weeks and report to a parole officer once a week.

He must also stay away from Bathurst.

The Parole Board's decision to free Horan met with widespread opposition from Const Quinn's family, politicians and community groups.

Constable Paul Quinn's brother Brodie told the ABC's 7.30 Report: "This bloke is dangerous, he will commit again, and let the people of the Parole Board go and get him and put him back in his cage next time."

NSW Justice Minister John Hatzistergos questioned whether Horan would comply with his parole conditions, and the Police Association said such decisions were hurting police morale.